– Spoiler Review –
The next arc for the Yoda maxiseries is here, as Marc Guggenheim, joined by Alessandro Miracolo, puts the eponymous Jedi Master through a mission in the Clone Wars where the stakes have never been higher. But before he figures out how and where to take care of the new threat, he duels with who?! Find out in our review of Yoda #7!
After meeting a reliable source of information, Yoda has knowledge there’s a new weapon being developed by the Separatists which could mean the end of the war for the Republic if completed. While he doesn’t have tons of information, which causes the Jedi Council to doubt him a bit, Anakin Skywalker’s recent ‘acquisition’ of a Separatist ship provides the proof and first hint they need. This so called “Operation: Titan” is being developed across two different worlds, though they only find the name of one. Yoda and Anakin head to the planet Enthenium to see what they can find, though only Yoda sneaks into the base since he’s small enough to crawl around the ducts and go unnoticed. As stealthy as he is, he has a run in with General Grievous, though the droid army gets between them and Yoda manages to escape. Thankfully he gained some knowledge before he had to flee, as they now know where “Titan” is being completed and the scope of these so-called Megadroids the Separatists are developing, 4x larger than any human! To have the smallest Jedi against the Separatists’ biggest weapon should be a fun sight to see in the next two issues, especially if Guggenheim can keep up this great balance between story and action, plus maintain a similar pace.
But what might be the lesson here, as each arc has concluded with Yoda remarking on a lesson he’s learned from these missions or encounters? When we see Yoda in the framing story, cooking in his hut on Dagobah, the Force Ghost is rather persistent now, telling him, despite his mission and goal for this exile, he can’t seriously continue as is if he knows of the growing darkness in the galaxy. Yoda tells the Ghost he does know what’s going on, but the Emperor and the Empire have gotten to be too powerful and too big a threat for him to handle. The Ghost comes back at him with his own lesson we all know well: size matters not, doesn’t it? Yoda tackling droids 4x larger than humans is certainly a memory which should convince old Jedi Master of his old lesson!
Joining Guggenheim for this arc is artist Alessandro Miracolo, with colorist Annalisa Leoni, while letterer Joe Caramagna returns. I have to jump right to one of the big standout parts: Yoda standing on his R9 astromech! This was absolutely silly and awesome at the same time, as while Yoda might know size matters not, he knows the affect it can have to both hide his movements and make him seem more menacing, as he uses the droid to appear taller to help keep his contact secret. I figured it was Yoda from the hands appearing from the robe he’s wearing, but I was trying to figure out how he was so tall in this moment (stilts? Standing on Yaddle’s shoulders? An exosuit like Grogu used?) so I loved this reveal a ton as it feels far more Yoda-ish than my guesses. The next thing I’ve been eager to talk about with the art is: the battle between Grievous and Yoda was stellar!! Miracolo has only recently started working on Star Wars comics but he’s making splashes every time he does, but this might be the best yet. In a way, it’s a smaller scale preview of how Miracolo will handle Yoda against 4 story tall droids, as Grievous is far taller than the Jedi Master (no matter what Anakin says when they finally meet) and all his limbs and size seem to be enough to overwhelm Yoda. Unlike the Yoda of the framing story, this one is confident and unafraid of Grievous’ imposing stature, even though Miracolo draws Grievous in such a way he seems more like a giant monster from a horror movie than a mechanical menace, the point of view of most of their battle’s panels is from Yoda’s, so we’re always looking up at the General, aiding in making him seem like a tough fight. The POV changes as Yoda uses the Force to show what Grievous all his fancy lightsaber training is missing, and then it levels out in the final few panels before the other droids show up and break up the fight, as if they are on a level playing field now, Grievous’ various advantages void. Leoni’s colors spark a lot, bringing an extra intensity to their fight, the blades lighting each combatant as they trade blows, while Caramagna’s SFX show the might of Grievous’ blows and only serves to make Yoda’s steadfastness all the more impressive. Leoni’s colors overall set many of the scenes, as the dark yet semi brightness to the clandestine meeting with Yoda is the first hint it’s a heroic character under the robes; the Council room is shining bright, a beacon of the Jedi’s light; and the blue of the background in his lightsaber duel with the General is foreboding. Caramagna’s creepy word bubbles are a direct continuation of the ones Travis Lanham used in the totally spooky Age of Republic – General Grievous #1 and I love the consistency!
Here are a few other things:
- Guggenheim’s arc will be the last of the series, but there’s a 10th issue to wrap it all up, which sees the return of Cavan Scott from the opening arc and looks to be set in the present of the framing story. Through solicits we’ve learned who the Force Ghost is that’s pestering Yoda, though it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.
- This arc will tie into Guggenheim’s far-reaching Revelations one-shot from last year, which means it holds some type of hint for the Dark Droids crossover later this year.
Yoda #7 has an intriguing enough set up for a story I’m ready to see realized by the art team!
+ Art team setting the stage for the David v Goliath fights ahead
+ Intriguing opening for the final lesson this series wants us to know Yoda learned
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
YODA MAXISERIES REVIEWS
Light and Life: #1 | #2 | #3 — Students of the Force: #4 | #5 | #6 — Size Matters Not